On August 25 at 19h30 at Howard College Theatre the vibrant group of young singers calling themselves Opera @ Mzantsi bring to the stage excerpts of operas by Rossini, Offenbach, Mozart, Verdi, Strauss, Halĕvy and Puccini.

Amongst them are such popular and rarely heard numbers as Pieta rispetto amore from Macbeth, Rachel, quand from La Juive, the Barcarolle (septet) from Tales of Hoffmann and Pria di dividerci (Finale Act 1) from L’italiana in Algeri.

Opera @ Mzantsi (opera in South Africa) is a group of singers initiated by Bonginkosi Cingani, a graduate and Masters Student from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The company hopes to create job opportunities for young talented opera singers and to win multi-cultural audiences for opera.

This ensemble aims to be a perfect platform to prepare young opera singers for what singing teachers and long-term professionals call “the real world”. Amongst the singers are the winner of the South African Opera Student Prize 2006, Bulelani Madikizela, as well as finalists Nonhlanhla Mthimkhulu and Mhlaba Buthelezi. Well-known pianist Andrew Warburton will accompany the singers for the evening.

Tickets R40 (R25 students) available at the door.

Opera @ Mzantsi is a touring opera entertainment group which is accessible to the whole community and can be booked for functions such as weddings or conferences. More information from Mabongi on 031 260 3037 or 083 929 3261 or e-mail: mngunime@ukzn.ac.za